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Roads that were damaged by Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines are identified as one of the reasons why relief operation efforts for the victims of the typhoon are restrained, and the condition of its infrastructure "also make it particularly vulnerable to the kind of devastation we're seeing this week," Joshua Keating writes. Also, the World Economic Forum said an "inadequate supply of infrastructure" is considered as one of the main barriers for the Philippines' economic growth. Meanwhile, the disaster's "total economic impact may reach $14 billion, with only about $2 billion of that insured," according to Bloomberg.

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Relief efforts after Typhoon Haiyan were assisted by the quick resumption of mobile communications, as the displaced could connect with their families and aid contributions could be raised. "Typhoon Yolanda has been a big learning experience for the mobile operators in the Philippines," says Kyla Reid, the head of disaster response at Groupe Speciale Mobile Association.

ANA President Karen A. Daley spoke directly to the head of the Philippine Nurses Association to express her concern for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan. Financial aid is considered the most effective response to the disaster, and ANA urged health professionals to send donations through the American Nurses Foundation's Disaster Relief Fund.

The 7,000 islands that make up the Philippines are in an area most prone to storms, according to studies. That's because "[g]eography, meteorology, poverty, shoddy construction, a booming population, and, to a much lesser degree, climate change" come together to form the susceptible conditions. In Tacloban, the area hardest hit by the recent super typhoon, about 33% of the houses have wooden exterior walls and almost 15% have grass roofs. Nevertheless, some see changes in the climate, particularly a rise in temperatures, as "a recipe for catastrophic heatwaves, floods, droughts and sea-level rise."

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has ordered warships, including the USS George Washington aircraft carrier, to the Philippines for disaster relief after a typhoon struck the island nation on Sunday. "These ships and aircraft will be able to provide humanitarian assistance, supplies, and medical care in support of the ongoing efforts led by the government and military of the Republic of the Philippines," said George Little, spokesman for the Pentagon.

The United Nations has released $25 million in emergency aid for Philippines disaster relief and is appealing for a total of $301 million to assist the typhoon-stricken country. Valerie Amos, head of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, will be on-site to oversee the UN's relief efforts. Other countries have separately offered about $35 million in aid.